Control unit for linecasting and composing machines



L. M. WALDEN July 2, 1935.

CONTROL UNIT FOR LINE CASTING AND COMPOSING MACHINES Filed May 4, 1932"" 3 Sheets-Sheet l MY NV July 2, 1935. L, M. WALDEN 2,006,848

CONTROL tINIT FOR LINE CASTING AND COMPOSING MACHINES Filed May 4, 1932 S Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR LESTER M. WALDEN ATTORNEY L. M. WALDEN July 2, 193 s.

CONTROL UNIT FOR LINE CASTING AND COMPOSING MACHINES Filed May 4, 1932 s Sheets-Sheet 3,

- INVENTORY LESTER M. WALDEN 7% ATTORNEY Patented July 2, 1935 PATENT OFFICE CONTROL UNIT FOR LINECASTING AND COMPOSING MACHINES Lester M. Walden, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application May 4, 1932, Serial No. 609,073

30 Claims.

This invention relates to typecasting and composing machines and more particularly to units for the automatic control thereof."

A general object of the present invention is to provide an automatic control unit that may be applied to standard types of 'linecasting and composing machines and that is especially adaptable to standard keyboard construction, as well as to standard function control in order that the application of 'an automatic control unit to such machines may be made easily and expeditiously and without need of particular adjustment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic control unit for linecasting and composing machines in which any irregularities of operation may be compensated for through the operation of intercontrol devices.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a control unit that is responsive to perforations in a control form and that is provided with mechanism adaptable to reconcile to its own operation certain practices in the preparation of such form which are essentially foreign to it. r

The present invention'comprises improvements that are especially adapted to control unit structures, such as that disclosed in copending application Serial No. 600,606, filed March 23, 1932, wherein is provided a selector mechanism employing a set of specially shaped selectable elements alternately and oppositely cross disposed to a series of selector bars.

As ismore completely described in the copending application referred to, this unit is controlled by perforated continuous tape which may be prepared by a special perforating mechanism, such as disclosed in 'copending application Serial No. 601,172, filed March 25, 1932. This tape, or Con-.- trol form, as it is generally referred to, is progressively fed through a record reader or tape sensing mechanism in which is provided a set of feeler members, adapted uponsuccessive feeding operations to sense the presence or absence of perforations in each transverse row in, the C011? trol form. A corresponding set of transfer levers conveys each'such reading to a set of notched code bars which by a resultant permutative arrangement produces an alignment of notches into which one of a plurality. of selectable members is permitted to enter so" as to come into operative engagement with a' common actuating element.

The motion imparted by the common'actuator or striker is preferably so timed as to simulate a manual release stroke such" as is usually (Cl ISM-31) imparted by an experienced operators touch. A constantly rotating cam shaft positioned between opposite alignments of the selectable elements imparts motion to the common striker,

alternatively performing driving gear trains.

Since linecasting and composing machines are inherently of complex structure it follows that. the possibility of mechanical error in operation is correspondingly great. In contemplation of this characteristic failing several appliances have been embodied into the present invention for the purpose of minimizing the probabilities of occurrence of such errors, and arresting the further operation of the mechanism in the event of interrupted performance. In case the elevator mechanism of the principal machine encounters any obstruction, means have been provided for rendering ineffective further application of operating power, while in case of an obstruction of the manual control handle the latter is designed to yield to such obstruction and to arrest further operationof the control unit. A more complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a linecasting and Fig. 2 is a' detailed perspective view of the power distributing mechanism located in front of and at the right of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a general perspective view of a keyboard mechanism of "a prin'cipal machine with parts broken away to show the application of the present invention thereon.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view, taken approximately on line 4+4 of Fig. 1 illustrating the normal operative position of the selector mechanism during the operation of ayieldable member.

Fig.5 is a detail sectional .view taken ona line similar to that of Fig. 4 but illustrating the effect of resistance to the operative performance of a yieldable member.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken approximately on line 6-5 of Fig. 1 illustrating the driving train from the constantly rotating shaft to the elevator raising shaft.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary detail section similar to Fig. 6 illustrating a condition of operation.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail sectional View similar to Fig. 6 illustrating another condition of operation.

In the detailed description of this machine particular reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters indicate similar parts throughout.

Structure For convenience in applying this unit to stand ard line-casting and controlling machines its structure is almost en irely supported upon a unitary framework 15 as best indicated in Fig. 1. This framework comprises a base casting IS, the major portion of which underlies the keyboard of the principal machine, while an extended portion H is disposed to the right of the machine as viewed in l and carries a power distributing mechanism l3 (Fig. 2), a record reader i9, and the coordinating connection therebetween. A pair of side walls 2| and 22, preferably formed integrally with the base casting l5, are each provided with two bayonet lugs (not shown), the foremost ones of which receive a pair of trunnions which are secured to the keyboard casting, while the rearmost ones rest upon a pairof sleeves through which an elevator raising shaft 23 is supported for rotation.

Power is received by the unit from the principal machine by means of a pulley 24 mounted on the intermediate shaft '25 thereof. As best suggested by Figs. 1, 2 and 6 pulley 24 drives pulley wheel 26 through a pulley belt 2? and imparts a definite and constant rotation to shaft 28 preferably commensurate with the maximum operative speed of the principal machine. A pair of tributary operating shafts 29 and 3| communicate with constantly rotating power shaft 28 through the medium of gear pairs 32 and 33, of which the driven gears 34 and 35 are freely supported upon their respective shafts 29 and 3| and carry secured thereto driving clutch members 36. and 31.

Under control of definite tie-up mechanism each of these driving clutch members is made to impart motion to its respective shaft through the medium of associative driven clutch members 38 and 39, which are preferably of similar construction. Shaft 23 however functions to control the record reading or tape sensing mechanism i9 and the selector mechansim, and will, for convenience, be referred to hereinafter as the record reader power shaft, while shaft 3! functions solely to control the elevator raising mechanism and its associated devices and will be referred to hereinafter as the elevator cam shaft.

Record reader mechanism A perforated tape 4| is'fed through a receiving die 42 of a record reader mechanism, generalh/ indicated IS, in regular intermittent or step-by-step motion, imparted to it by suitable pawl andratchet feed received from cam 43 by roller engagement M. V

During the rest interval between the aforementioned intermittent motions or steps a set of feeler levers 45 are permitted to rotate counterclockwise under control of a common bail 46 which engages an alignment of projections 41 integrally formed with each of said levers 45. Bail 46 forms part of a bellcrank structure 48 pivoted on shaft; 48 and like the feed mechanism receives its motion from a cam 5| by roller engagement 52, in quite the same manner as the above described mechanism. Feeler levers 45 are of identical structure each having an extended arm 53 terminating in a feeler pin 55,

which comprises the immediate sensing medium since it contacts the control form 4! cyclically for the purpose of determining the presence or absence of a perforation therein in its particular longitudinal track. The lowermost portion of feeler levers 45 carry a pair of spaced shoulder abutments 55 and 56 somewhat narrower in over-all dimension than are shoulders 5'! and 58 of a set of transfer levers 59 associated individually therewith, so that when any of the shoulders 51 or 58 register opposite their respective abutments 55 or 56, the other of the pair of shoulders clears its respective abutment.

Levers 45 are limited in their motion by having provided centrally therewith a hole 6| through the several of which passes a rod 62 of consider-- ably smaller cross-sectional area so as to permit of sufficient clearance therebetween to allow feeler levers 45 during one extremity of motion :1.

to have lugs 55 in registration opposite shoulder: 5'! of their associated transfer levers 59, and during the opposite limit of motion to clear them while the other of the pairs of shoulders 53 come into registration with their associated lugs 56.

Transfer levers 59, in addition to being provided with shoulders 51 and 58, also carry downwardly disposed articulation discs 63 adapted to be received into slots 64 of code bar links 65. the latter members as suggested by their name are connected to a set of code bars 66 and open ate to position the latter in accordance with each code combination of perforations in the control tape 4| in the following manner. 61 passing through the several lugs 68 of transfer levers 59 is carried by a suitable bellcran: structure, not shown, and receives a timed reciprocating motion from cam 69 carried upon record reader operating shaft 23 so that when moving upwardly the transfer levers 59 are forced into engagement with their associated feeler levers 45 and depending upon the individual position of each, ultimately determined by the presence or absence of a perforation in the corn trol form 4|, these levers 59 receive a corresponding position and by means of thei articulation with links impart a corresponding positionment to the set of code bars 65.

Thus the reading of a transverse row of pe'-'- forations is first imposed upon the set of feele levers 45 after which and preferably in successive cycles of operation so as to provide an overlap in operation, the setting is subsequently imposed upon the several code bars 85.

Selector mechanism In order to concentrate the space in which several selectable elements H are confined, code bars 66 are provided with notches 12 upon both edges thereof, and the selectable elements I! are alternately and oppositely disposed to be accomodated by both sets of said notches 12. As will be seen best in Figs. 4 and 5, the selectable elements 1| are generally of similar con-- Shaft tour except that in accordance with their respective alignments they are symmetrically opposite. Both aligned rows of elements Hiare pivoted about a common shaft 13' and are urged rearwardly and toward each other, by spring came l6 its apices '11 spread selectable elements H and also permit them to approach each other two times. However, during each cycle of operation of the apparatus the spreader cam it rotates I or one-half revolution, its normal rest position being that whereinits apices are in a vertical line, as shown in Fig. 3. For each positionment of the several code bars 66 a particular one of the plurality of selectable elements H, which may be either an upper or a.

lower one, is offered an alignment of notches 12 into which it is permitted to move when, during the following rotation, the spreader cam shaft 16 comes substantially into the position as indicated in Fig. 4, whereupon the several elements "I! are thrust against the set of code bars 5%. In order to permit an abrupt descent on the part of selected elements 1| upon the occurrence of such an alignment of notches, cut away portions 18 are provided therein while apices H of spreader cam shaft '16 areshouldered sharply on their descending side. In operation, as soon as a particular element H is selected; that is, as soon as the code bars 66 come into a particular arrangement to afford a definite alignment of code notches 12, a selected element H is permitted to drop quickly into this alignment of notches by virtue of the clearance that is suddenly afforded by the cut away portions #8 in cooperation with apices H. In contrast, it will be noted that without this the descent of a selected element would depend solely upon the speed of rotation of shaft 16.

Immediately following the selective positionment of an element H, common actuator '19 receivesa leftward motion (Figs. 4 and 5) through suitable'cam engagement (not shown) with shaft 16, and in turn imparts this motion to the selected element H by engaging its shoulder portion 8!, Fig. 3. Under normal conditions of operation the forward movement of an element 1| originating from the common actuator 19 and acting against spring 80causes the rotation of its associated bellcrank 82 about pivot 83 by striking its depending arm 84, while the other arm 85 of bellcrank 82 engages an'oifse t portion 86 of a corresponding one of a plurality of key levers 81, as shown in Fig; 4. These levers 81, as more completely described in the copending application referred to, arearticulated to individual weights 88 which in turn are asso ciated with timed release mechanisms and operate ina well known manner to release matrices individually from the magazine 89, Fig. l.

The response on the part of the principal machine subsequent to this point of operation is believed to be too well known to require detailed description herein, it being deemed 'suilicient to take up those phases of the operation where this particular invention is concerned.

The matrices released from the magazine 39,

against the action of its'spring 98.

as abovedescribed are received and accumulated upon an assembling block 9| which constitutes part of a conveying mechanism commonly knownas the assembling elevator 92. When a suflicient number of matrices are assembled up- I on block 9| to constitute'a full-measure line an elevator signal is received by the record reader mechanism 19 which-operates in the following manner.

' Elevator mechanism In response to the elevator signal code bars 6'5 are positioned to cause the selection of an element 93 (Figs. 2 and 3) which is of similar configuration toelements H with the exception of being provided with an extension 94 and a dependent lug 95, the latter of which upon its movement forward under impetus of the common actuator engages one arm 95 of a T-lever El, rotating the latter counterclockwise and The foremost arm 99 of the lever 97, as viewed in Fig. 2, is pivotally connected toa latch bar it]! which terminates in an offset portion I82 adapted to cooperate with a spring urged latch m3, where- '97. Meanwhile, the other arm I05 of T-lever Ell which is pivotally. connected through a link I05 with a clutch disengagement lever I01 moves leftwardly causing the presentment of lever 101 in its effective position to receive a lug Hi8 carried by the driven member 38 of clutch I09. Lug I08 is provided with a beveled surface at its forward portion which during the presentment aforementioned is receivedinto opening I ll of lever I01 and engages a correspondingly beveled portion thereof. I tion of shaft 29 operates through the mediumof the coacting bevel surfaces to cam the driven member 38 away from its driving member 36 until the connection between the two is broken. Shaft 29 is splined to driven member 38 and, during the disengagement of the latter, is immediately brought to resttherewith.

Latch I03 has integrally formed therewith an upwardly extending lug H0 of sectoral configuration which presents its arcuate surface in a path cyclically traversed by the apex of a cam I20 securely mountedto and therefore rotatable with elevator cam shaft 3|. When, therefore, the elevator cam shaft 3| performs its revolution it invariably releases latch Hi3 through the engagement of cam i2!) with the lug H0 thereof The continued rota-.

causing bar It! to be freed and'to be restored r 60 which'is straddled by a pair of laterally extend ing arms H4 which terminate in a longitudinally shiftable bar H5. The mid-portion of floating lever H3 carries an adjustable abutment piece H6 in cooperative alignment with a depending arm Ill of 'a bellcrank member .I IS, the other arm of which is provided with a shouldered position of the bellcrank I IB to block counterclockwise movement of clutch disengagement lever I2! associated. with elevator cam shaft notch H9 adapted during the extreme clockwise I j scribed disengagement lever N11. The mid-portion of floatinglever U3: upon engaging arm; I ll. of bellcrankl 18 rotates the latter counterclock wise sufficiently to move shoulder H9 clear of. disengagement lever I2! after which the latter in response to a spring (not shown) moves out of effective position and permits the reengagement of driven; member39 with'driving member 31.

The rightward movement of. bar iBl through its articulation H2 with floating lever H3 is not in itself sumcient to effect the rotation of bellcrank H8 as described, however, when in addition to this movement the opposite end I23 of floating lever H3 is also moved rightwardly, this condition is attained.

The opposite end of bar H5 is connected to a lever i2 3, Fig. 1 which is pivoted at i and carries at its free end, a follower roller .25 adapted to lie in the path of delivery slide arm I21 of the principal machine. Thus it will be understood that when the delivery slide arm l21is in its normal position as indicated in Fig. 1 bar H5 through the medium of lever PM is maintained in its extremerightward position, Fig. 2, while at. any other time when arm i2 is not in its normal position such as is the case during operation of the elevator 52 bar H5 is in its leftward position into which it moves under the influence of a spring 523. The feature of this structure is that upon the sception of an elevator signal in the reco d the elevator mechanism is not actuated unless the delivery slide arm has returned from its previous operation, resulting thereby in regularity of operation and response on the part of the conveying mechanism of the principal machine.

Elevator signal interceptor The proper assembling of matrices and the control of line justification is dependent upon the control tape having been correctly prepared; that is, that a proper number of matrix signalsintervene successive elevator signals. In the event, however, that too few signals intervene a pair of elevatorsignals or in the event of consecutive elevator signals, mechanism is provided for causing nevertheless a desirable response on the part of the principal machine.

Consecutive elevator signals are not always the result of error in the preparation of the tape; for example, in the control of certain automatic devices 'a pair of consecutive elevator signals are used for eifectuating certain special responses on the part of those devices. Except for this practice the control tapes of those certain devices are similar to those adapted to control the present device and may accordingly also be used for the control thereof. The improvement about to be described functions to adapt to' the use of the present invention' control forms that are primarily intended for use with other devices in which there is employed the aforementioned practice which is essentially foreign to the present case.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 3, attention is directed to the assembling slide bar i129 of the principal machine. This bar carries at its extreme left a vertical portion I35, which as the matrices are received between it and the assembling star wheel (not shown), moves leftwardly carrying with it bar I29. The right end of bar. I29 during its normal position and when an insufficient number of matrices have been assembled, abuts against, one arm 132 of bellcrank member !33, the other. arm of which, is connected through link 534' as best indicated in Fig. 3 to a cradle structure I35 journalled on shaft I35. An upstanding arm. l3? forming part of cradle I35 is disposed during its normal position to overlie extended portion 9A of elevator selectable element or bar 93 to, prevent the selection of bar 93, except under certain conditions.

Until enough matrices are assembled on the block St to move slide bar 29 clear of the bellcrank lever arm $2 for permitting spring 538 to rotate it counterclockwise and to rock the arm l3? out of blocking position, the interposition by the latter in the path of the extended portion 9 prevents the selection of elevator selector bar 93 even though the proper signal is received and an alignment of. notches 72 are disposed to permit it to drop into selected position.

Elevator control mechanism As is best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, the asesinbling elevator of the principal machine, which operates to deliver an accumulated line of matrices to the delivery slide trackway, is located at the left of the machine is connected through the medium of link 539 to a lifting arm Mi secured to the elevator operating shaft 23 which extends horizontally across the foremost portion of the keyboard. The right end of shaft 23 immediately after passing through the adjacent supporting sleeve carries secured to it a manual control lever M2 indicated in Figs. 2, 6 to 8. Adjacent to lever M2 and freely carried on shaft 23 is a roller arm M3 terminating with a cam roller M4 adapted to engage the peripheral surface of a cam Hi5 carried upon elevator cam shaft 3|. Preferably formed integrally with arm M3 and angularly disposed thereto is a sleeve formation M6 in which is carried button l4! and spring MB. In its normal position button 241, urged by spring 548 engages with its V-shaped nose I49 a cooperating notch 55 in a segmental member 252 which is also securely mounted upon elevator shaft 23.

The normal position of the elevator cam shaft 3!, the elevator shaft 23, and operating mechanism is as indicated in Fig. 6, and upon being set in motion by the engagement of clutch E22, elevator cam shaft 3! describes a complete revolution and comes to a stop under control of single revolution clutch mechanism fully described in copending application Serial No. 600,606 referred to above. When cam M5 has raised the elevator mechanism to its extreme limit of motion the several parts assume positions as indicated in Fig. 8 provided, however, that no resistance is encountered nor any impediment is introduced to the freedom of movement of the elevator. When the elevator is not free to move which condition may be established by any of several causes, cam shaft 3! performs its usual cycle of operation placing cam M5 in the position indicated in Fig. 8 during the operative cycle thereof, but since the elevator shaft rev sists the motion thus imparted to it the operative connection is made inefiective by button M? which then rises out of its seat I55 and continues up into its arcuate trackway I53. This position (Fig. '7) once having been established the several parts remain thereat until they are manually restored by an operator, who

remedies the cause which interrupted the movement of, the elevator.

Arm I43 in addition to carrying follower roller I44 also carries a finger I54 secured to it as indicated in Figs 2 and 7. During the operation of therrecord reader and while the elevator is at rest finger I54 is in, its, normal, position overlying and engaging projection I55 of a cradle- I56. A sidewardly extending arm I51 integrally formed with cradle I56 is disposed during this normal position to just clear the extremity of disengagement lever H11. As soon, however, as arm 43 is started into oscillation by elevator cam I45 finger I54 rises sumciently to permit cradle !56 in response to itsspring I58 to present arm I57 into effectual position for blocking the withdrawal of disengagement lever Cradle I55 is in its effective'or blocking position at alltimes except during the operation of the elevator mechanism or when, pursuant to an quent starting'into rotation of record reader shaft 29 are dependent upon two precedent conditions. A In re comprehensive understanding of the complete performance of these two control mechanismsw-ill be had during the course of the complete description of operation following hereinafter,

Manual control handle I42 being securely fixed to elevator shaft 23 'normallyextends in a horizontal position as indicated in Fig. 6, above:

,the general range in which an operator seated before'the machine might locatehis knee. order, therefore, to, prevent any injury to the operator such as might otherwise occur, the two members I42 and I iE'are maintainedas sep-' arately operative elements on shaft 23 as best indicated in Fig. 2., Under this condition, if an elevator signal is. received and arm, I43 started into motion, so far as the frictional en gagement between button I41 and segment 552 is concerned, any blocking of the handle I42 operates in the samemanner as any other interruption of the elevator mechanism, rendering the driving power ineifectual by causingthe button I41 to ride up into the arcuate traokway A lug 555 formed integrally with arm I43 nor mally overlies a pin projectionISI carried by one arm of a finger lever- H52 pivoted at I63 on handle E42, the other arm of which is provided with a conveniently disposed thumb piece E64. When, in the event of any interference with the movement oi handle I42 such'as just described, the frictional connection including button 241 is temporarily suspended, the 'motion imparted to projection E59, by reason of the movement of arm 543 is received through pin I6! to effect a positioning of finger lever E62 as indicated in Fig. 7. Elevator cam shaft 3|, after this occurrence, continues its rotation until it has completed its cycle although arm I43 remains in the position as shown in Fig. '1. After removing the object-which blocked the movement of handle I42 an operator depresses thumb piece I541 in order to restore arm I43 and its integral member tonormalcy. through the means of pin IGI and lug I59.

Operation In the operation ofthepresent device a tape 4] which has beenpreviously prepared, as explained above, is inserted into the receiving die .42, as indicated in Fig. 2, and the mechanism started in motion. Tape 45 is then intermittent ly stepped forward by a pawland ratchet'feed mechanism and continues in this'motion until the occurrence of a special group of perforations in the tape to be hereinafter'identified as an elevatorsignal, whereupon it is brought torest as will be explained. During the short interval of rest between its successive step-by-step. motion the set or" feeler levers 45 rotate counterclockwise, when permitted to do so by the-presence of a perforation opposite their respective pins 54. Of theseveral levers 45 those whose pins 54 doencounter perforations are permitted to continue in counterclockwise motion until their lugs 56 come into registration with shoul- 'ders 58 of transfer levers 59 at which time. the

oppositeshoulders Bl clear their associated lugs I 55; while those levers whose pins 54 do not encounter such perforations but, are blocked in position substantially as shown, register their lugs 55 opposite shoulders 51 while their companion lugs 55 clear shoulders 58. Following each setting, the several transferlevers 59 being carried by a bellcrank structure of which shaft El forms a part, are moved upwardly forcing those shoulders 5land 58 into registration with their respective lugs 55 or 56 to engage the latter to serve as fulcrums to effect, upon further elevation of the transfer levers, the rotation of the transfer levers, which rotation, in turn, effects through connection 63 and 64, the right or left movement of code bar links'55, and hence code bars 66. 7

When a particular code combination thathas been imposed upon feeler levers 45 istransferred to the several transfer levers 59, cam 5| acting upon roller '52 rotates 'bellc'rank structure 45 and causes the engagement by shaft 45 of the several feeler lever "projections 47 returning them to their extreme clockwise position-after which they jlevers 59 simultaneously effects a corresponding positioning of the permutation bars fili following which spreadercam it assumes a position sirnilar to that indicated in Fig. 4 permitting the particular selectable element II, under whichthere hasibeen presented an alignment of notches I2, to descend or ascend, as the case may be; to a position such as for. example the one indicatedin Fig. 4. At this instant, striker bar 19 moves leftwardlyrotating or dislodging its corresponding yieldable bellcrank lever 82 through the interposition of the element II.

Where the particular code combination represents a letter or figure this selection causes the release of a, corresponding matrix, but where, however, thejparticular codecombination represents a special function, such as, for example,

tion' of a particular'selector bar whereat instead of selecting a matrix releasingbar there is in.-

stead'selected the special elevator bar 93. On being moved forward this elevator bar rotates T-lever 9T counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2 effecting the latching of bar IGI behind latch member I'03' and presentingdisengagement lever (01 in eifectiveposition for arresting the rotation of record reader shaft 29. Attention is directed to this means as the first of two separate mechanisms that operate to maintain the record readershaft 29 in dormant condition, the other of the two means being the spring tensioned cradle I'56- structurally described above.

- The rightward movement of latch bar I9I to which'is articulated one end of floating lever II3 usually operates to disengage bellcrank lever I I8 from lever I2I and allow the elevator cam shaft 3| 'to'be driven through clutch I22, and only in the event that the delivery slide arm I2'I has failed toreturn will this movement on the part of latch bar IOI not be followed by the aforementioned release operation. Where, however, the 'deliver'y slide arm i2! or the assembling elevator 92 is interrupted in its movement the foremost end I23 of floating lever H3 will be retained in its extreme leftward position through failure of the delivery slide arm from engaging lever I24 as described above.

Elevator cam shaft 3i makes but one revolution in response to each initiating signal after which it automatically is brought to rest irrespective of the performance on the part of any of the restof the control mechanism; that is to say, that even though the floating lever H3 should engage bellcrank I I 8 for longer than normal duration, clutch I22 will operate but once and shaft 3 I makes but a single revolution. The single revolution clutch mechanism operates as follows.

Upon 'being released elevator cam shaft 3I begins its cycle of rotation. A bellcrank not shown in the present disclosure, but more'clearly explained in the referred to copending application operates immediately to present disengagement lever I2! back into its effective position so that the next time that the revolving lug of clutch driven member 39 is brought into registration with the opening'of lever I2I it is again camme'd away as described in connection with clutch I09. a Cam I20 carried by shaft 3| engages an extended portion III) of latch I03 depressing it sufficiently to permit the offset portion I02 of bar. II to override shoulder. I34 thereof in re.- sponse to the urge of T-lever spring 98 returning T-lever. 91. and-its, articulated members to normal position. While it would appear that this clockwise return movement. on the part of T-lever. S'Iby shifting link lflfi rightwardly would withdraw disengagement lever. I 91 from its effective position it will be recalled that a secondary blocking means; namely, cradle I56 and its sidewardly extending arm I51, are'at this time'presented to block the return movement on the part oflever I91 thereby preventing the reengagement of driven clutch member 38 with driving member 35 until the elevator mechanism is completely restored. The proper restoration of engage the extended portion I55 of cradle I55 to permit the reengagement of power to record reader shaft 29. After the operative connection between button I4! and segment I52 has thus yielded to the interruption of movement of the elevator '92, or through a blocking of movement of the manual control lever I42 further operation of the unit is suspended until the cause of such interruption is remedied and finger I54 restored to its normal position by depressing thumb lever I62 as previously described.

Where as in the case just described one elevator signal has been received and in response thereto the elevator mechanism has been operated and thereafter another elevator signal is received before any matrices are assembled, or before a sufficient number of them are assembled, delivery slide I29 will not have been moved leftwardly, (Figs. 1 and 3) far enough to completely disengage arm I32 of bellcrank I33. For this reason link i34 to which bellcrank I33 is connected remains down as shown in Fig. 3 and maintains cradle I35 in its extreme clockwise position whereat arm I3! is disposed to overlie extension '94 of elevator selector bar 93.

When, therefore, the second elevator signal is received, as mentioned, although the code bars 66 present to the elevator selector bar 93 an alignment of notches I2 into which it may descent yet it cannot do so because of the aforementioned blocking of extension 94 by arm I31. Instead of affecting the elevator operating mechanism, therefore, the second signal is ineffective, and the assembling operation allowed to continue as though there had been no such second elevator signal.

While the present disclosure is made with reference to a particular structure it is to be understood that numerous modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is therefore not intended to be limited by any of the specific illustrations in the accompanying drawings nor to the particular language used in the foregoing specification but to be permitted a construction of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a linecasting and composing machine, a composing mechanism, a periodically operative mechanism, a record reader, a selectable element operated by said record reader in response to certain signals for actuating said periodically operative mechanism, and means responsive to a predetermined condition for preventing the selection of said selectable element.

2. In a linecasting machine, a plurality of keylevers, an automatic control mechanism for actuating said keylevers including a corresponding plurality of selectable elements, a corresponding plurality of members intermediate said keylevers and said elements, means operative upon the selection of each of said elements by said control mechanism to cause the actuation of its corresponding keylever through the medium of its intermediate member, and yieldable means associated with said intermediate members operative to absorb the motion imparted by said selectable elements when it is resisted by said keylevers.

3. In a composing machine, a plurality of keylevers, a plurality of yieldable actuators for operating said keylevers, and an automatic eontrolunit' includinga record reader, and a plurality of selectable elements eachoperative upon its selection by said unit to impart motion to a corresponding one of said actuators.

4. In a linecasting machine, a composing mechanism and a casting mechanism, an automatic control mechanism including a plurality of individually selectable elements, a record reader for selecting each of said elements, a conveyor operative between said composing and said casting mechanisms, one'of said selectable elements being operative to actuate said conveyor, and means under control of said composing mechanism'to prevent the selection of said one of said selectable elements.

5. In an automatic mechanism for keyboard control, a plurality of keylevers to be manually operated, a plurality of elements individually and automatically selectable, aplurality of -yieldable members each intermediate said keylevers and said elements, and a common actuator intermittently operated to impart motion through selected ones of saidelements to their corresponding intermediate membersand keylevers. 6. An automatic control .unit for linecasting and composing machines including a plurality of manually operable keylevers, a plurality of individually and automatically selectable actuators, and a plurality of pivoted intermediate member's'receiving motion from said actuators to be imparted to said keylevers and displaceably yieldable in the event of undue resistance to motion by said keylevers.

'7. In an automatic control unit for manually operable keyboards, actuating mechanism for approximating manual technique comprising a plurality of fingers operative upon a keyboard, a common impeller, mechanism for imparting to said impeller abrupt reciprocative motion, a plurality of interposition members individually selectable into position forcommunicating motion from said impeller to one of said'fingers, and a yieldable agency individual to each finger for absorbing excessive or resisted motion.

8. In a linecasting machine, a composing mechanism, a conveyor means for operating said conveyor including a handle for manual control, and. a power driven train for automatic control, and a frictional driving connection within said operating means subordinating said power driven train and rendered ineffective in the event of predetermined conditions. i

9. In a linecasting and composing machine, an elevator, mechanism for operating said elevator, including a manual manipulator and a power driven means, characterized by means 'for rendering the driving connecti'onbetween said power driven means and said mechanism ineffective including a spring pressed detent, and a segment having a trackway within which said detent is received in the event of any impediment in the operation of said elevator. i

10. In a linecasting and composing machine, a plurality of matrix releasing elements, mechanism responsive to perforations in'a tape for controlling the operationof the matrix releasing elements, an elevator'into which the released matrices are assembled, a cam for moving said elevator, a clutch through which power is com-' municated to said cam, in combination with a membermovable with said elevator, and a spring actuated means cooperating with said member and said cam but effective under predetermined conditions for disabling the application of fur.- ther power to said elevator.

11. In a linecasting and composing machine, a periodically "operative'apparatus, a source of motive power for op'eratin'g said apparatus, a signal controlled means for automatically engaging said source to said apparatus a disabling means-associated with saidapparatus comprising a connecting element yieldable in a direction transverse to the operating line of force upon encountering a predetermined amount of resistance to motion, and a springeurged detent connecting said disabling means and said apparatus including bevel engagement therebetween adapted to be overcome by predetermined resisting force. 1

12.1n a linecasting machine, a conveying f mechanism, and a signal responsive unit for automatically controlling said machine and said mechanism comprising a cyclically operative power cam shaft for actuating said mechanism, in combination with a drivingconnection between said shaft and said mechanism comprising a spring-urged detent 'yieldable in a direction transverse to that in which the drivingpower is communicated.

13. In a linecasting machine, a power takeofi mechanism for actuating a periodically ope erative organ comprising a continuously rotating shaft, a periodically rotatable shaft tributary to said continuously rotating shaft, a clutch for effecting the operative connection between said shafts, and single revolution release mechanism controlling said clutch, in combination with a limited resistance connection between said periodic shaft and the organ to which it is connected comprising a detent having notched engagement within said clutch.

14. In a linecasting machine, a conveyor mechanism including an automatic control unit therefor, a power driven train for operating said mechanism, and a handle for manually controlling saidxmechanism through which said power train is also operative, in combination with means associated with said handle collapsible under predetermined conditions for rendering ineffective the operative connection therethrough.

15. A linecasting machine including a periodically operative mechanism and a constantly operative mechanism, an automatic control unit for both mechanisms, a common source of power for both mechanisms, a manually operative means for actuatingsaid periodic mechanism, and means under control of said unit forautomatically; operating said. periodic mechanism through said manually operative'means, in combination with buffer apparatus within said man- .ualmeans operative to absorb resisted motion.

16. In a slector device, a'plurality of parallelly disposed selectable bars, a set of code bars variously positionable to afford a selective clearthe presentment of its'selective clearance.

17. In alinecasting and composing machine, a periodically operative mechanism, a-plurality ofselectable elements one of which controls said mechanism, a set of code bars positionable to present a selective clearance to said one of said elements,'and a blocking member responsive to a condition of said'mechanism for preventing the movement of said oneof said elements into its selective clearance. I V

18.--In a linecasting and composing machine,

a periodically operative conveyor and a control mechanism for automatically initiating and opperating said conveyor including a constantly rotating shaft, a periodically rotatable shaft, a single revolution clutch engagement between said shafts, and driving connection betweensaid periodically rotatable shaft and said conveyor in combination with a detent mechanism for disengaging operative connection thereat upon predetermined conditions.

19. In a linecomposing machine, a manual control board including a plurality of aligned function controlling .means, an automatic control unit including a corresponding plurality of individually selectable actuators for manipulating said means, .a set of actuator selectors permutatively positionable in accordance with control signals, and a signal controlled mechanism .for conditioning each .of said actuator selectors :in accordance with received signals,

in combination with means controlled by certain functions of said machine for preventing the selection of an actuator in response .to its selecting signal.

20. In a linecasting machine, a matrix assembling carriage, means for :gauging the accumulation of matrices in said carriage, an elevator for lifting said carriage, and a signal responsive selector mechanism including an element selectable .for operating :said elevator, in combination with means conditioned by said gauging means for preventing .the selection of said element.

21. In a linecasting machine, .a .plurality of keylevers, matrix release :elements controlled by said keylevers, and an automatic control mechanism for actuating saidkeylevers in response to predetermined conditions characterized by a yieldable connection between said controlled mechanism and said :keylevers for absorbing resistance to movement .on .thepart of said keylevers.

22. The combination set forth in claim 21 in which said yieldable connection comprises bellcrank levers intermediate said keylevers and said automatic controlled mechanism, and spring loaded-seating means displaceable for absorbing resistance from said keylevers.

23. In a linecasting and composing machine, a plurality of matrix releasing members, an element individual to each of said members for controlling their operation, a set of notched selectors capable .of .permutativeplacement for individually selecting 'each of .saidelements, a periodically operated mechanism including a carriage for receiving the matrices, andan-element operated in response to a certain signal for initiating the operation of said mechanism,

in combination with means operative directly and mechanically on said last mentioned elea with yieldable elements for communicating the seleotiveactuation to said keylevers at foremost portions thereof soas to avoid obstructing accessibility for manual control.

-25. In a linecasting andcomposing machine, an automatic control unit including a ;;peri'- .odlcally operating; power shaft, :axdevice associated with said machine to be operated by said shaft, means carried by said shaft for manua y actuating said device, and a connection between said shaft and said device including a yieldable intermediary effective to maintain operative connection below predetermined limits of resistance to the movement of said device and responsive to excessive resistance thereto by disabling its operative connection while permitting said shaft to continue in motion.

.26. In a linecasting and composing machine, an elevator for raising assembled matrices from a composing level to a higher level, a rock shaft throughwhich power .is to be communicated for moving said elevator, said shaft describing an angular rotation from a zero position through a definite are, an automatic control mechanism, an element carried by said shaft effective during the .zero position thereof to initiate the performance of said mechanism, and means for permitting the altered relationship of said element and said shaft for suspending the performance of said mechanism.

.27. In a linecasting and composing machine, a periodically operative organ and a regularly operative organ, 2. rock shaft through which power is communicated for actuating said periodically operative organ, a rotatable shaft through which power is communicated for actuating said regularly operative organ, an element carried by said rock shaft and effective during the .zero position of said rock shaft to initiate the performance of said rotatable shaft, and means for absorbing the .motion communicated from said rotatable shaft by altering the normal relationship of said element and said rock shaft.

28. In .a linecasting and composing machine, a periodically operative organ and a regularly operative organ, intercontrol means effective during the initiation into operation of said periodically operative organ .for arresting the operation of said regularly operative organ, a shaft rotatable for actuating said periodically operative organ, a detented arm having a normal angular position with respect to said shaft, an element .carried by said armand effective .during the zero position of said shaft to initiate into operation said regularly operative organ, and means foraltering the angular relationship of said element and said shaft for thereby disabling said element.

29. In a permutation selector mechanism, a set of code bars in parallel alignment, a plurality of selectable bars in transverse parallel alignment, means'for selectively positioning said code bars and for'thereby conditioning one of said plurality of selector bars, an actuator for impartinga function performing motion to said selector bars upon their being selectively conditioned individually, and means associated with each of said selector bars for transmitting said motion to anobjective device including a spring seated member-adapted to be pivotally displaced to absorb resisted motion.

30. .In aline composing machine, an elevator operating shaft having a manual operating means securedthereto, a power operating means freely :carriedby said shaft, and a constantly urging spring pressed detent constraining to join saidv manualand power means in operative unison :but permitting disconnection therebetween in the event of restricted movement of said shaft.

LESTER M. .WALDEN. 

